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Please check the published important dates schedule for updates.

Pre-K - Kindergarten

To obtain your copy, please contact your church’s Mahragan representative

Kindergarten

spiritual, coptic, & hymns

Hymns

  • This hymn is sung during the liturgy before the litany of the Gospel. The words are in Greek. It can be sung in a standard, festive, or sad tune. The origin is believed to go back to the time when Nicodimus and Joseph were wrapping Jesus with the linen cloth, and how they were astonished when they saw The Giver of Life in the tomb, and they said Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal. St Peter ordered the churches in Syria to pray this praise during their liturgies. 

  • This hymn is sung every hour of Pascha during Holy Week. It is repeated 12 times, 10 times in a fast tune, and 2 times in a slow tune. In this praise we Glorify our Lord Jesus Christ as The Greatest King as He accepted the death of the cross for our salvation so He is our strength and praise. This praise is taken from the book of Revelations, and some added parts are from Isaiah 12:2 and Psalm 117 (Septuagint) in the 11th hour.

Grades 1-3

To obtain your copy, please contact your church’s Mahragan representative

Grades 1 to 3

spiritual, coptic, & hymns

Hymns

  • This hymn is sung during midnight praises. It is a call for all creation to praise the Lord. It is the praise of the three youths from the book of Daniel, chapter 3. They praised the Lord during the time of trouble as this is the only way to enter heaven going through the time of trouble. It contains praises for the throne of God, praise from the Angels, praise from what’s above and under the ground, and praise from us the people.

This hymn is sung when The Lamb is being offered during any fasting day, i.e Wednesdays, Fridays, and all fasts including the weekends of Great Lent (both the weekdays). It is taken from Psalm 76:10 (Septuagint). It is a call for us to offer our thoughts as an acceptable sacrifice to Christ who offered Himself as a sacrifice for us. That is why it is connected with fasting days when we offer our bodies as a sacrifice as well.

This hymn is sung after every gospel during the procession of Palm Sunday. This procession is how we receive our King as He was received in Jerusalem with palms (a sign of victory). “Hosanna” means save us, and the people were expecting an earthly king to save them, but we understand that salvation is from the slavery of satan and sin.

Grades 4-5

To obtain your copy, please contact your church’s Mahragan representative

Grade 4 and 5

spiritual, coptic, & hymns

Hymns

  • This hymn is sung after the first canticle. The word “Lobsh” means explanation. The first canticle itself is taken from the book of Exodus, chapter 15. It talks about Moses and God’s people and how they were brought out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand despite Pharaoh’s army behind them and the Red Sea in front of them.  Passing the Red Sea is a symbol of Baptism, Pharaoh is a symbol of the devil who was drowned. The rod in Moses’ hand is a symbol of the Cross.

Our Lord (Great Fast)

  • This hymn is sung after reading the  Synaxarion and “Meghalo” on the weekends of Great Lent. It starts with “Our Lord Jesus Christ fasted for us”, and during the Great Lent we have a goal to fast like Him with purity and righteousness asking for the forgiveness of our sins. 

This hymn is sung during the procession of resurrection. It demonstrates the great truth that Christ has trampled death by His death and gave us an eternal life which is the same truth emphasized on Good Friday while singing Omonogenees.

  • Hazzat

https://0b77831f-b51e-40dc-a496-c592a125bce0.filesusr.com/ugd/c3f6de_4c817b4574394c30aa2ea4aa82ace3f1.pdf

Grades 6-8

To obtain your copy, please contact your church’s Mahragan representative

Grades 6 to 8

spiritual, coptic, & hymns

Hymns

Level 1
  • This hymn is sung during communion after psalm 150 on annual standard days. The first part is taken from the Gospel of St. John 6:41 reminding us that we eat the bread coming down from heaven like the Manna which came down from heaven for the people of Israel. The second part glorifies our mother St. Mary who bore to us The Savior. The third part reminds us that Christ took the form of a human, the body that we eat, without the seed of man (from heaven). 
  • Hazzat

https://www.hazzat.com/seasons/1/services/25/hymns/492/formats/2

  • This hymn is sung at the end of the Lamb offering instead of “Saved Amen OR Sotis Amen” during the weekdays of Great Lent. It is a part of psalm 87 prayed on the sixth hour in the Agpeya. Zion is a symbol of the church and Christ is the Man who dwelt in her and cast her foundation. 
  • Hazzat

https://0b77831f-b51e-40dc-a496-c592a125bce0.filesusr.com/ugd/c3f6de_e3bf5a46b608418bbcfa6fb688dd550e.pdf

  • This part is sung in the introduction of doxologies during the month Koiahk in Matins, Vespers. The doxologies for Koiahk focus on the birth of Jesus from St. Mary and on the annunciation of Gabriel to her. St. Mary is called the Chrubic throne according to psalm 18:10. In the doxologies of e also send greetings to St. Mary with Gabriel the Archangel and asks for her intercession at the end. 
Hazzat

https://www.hazzat.com/seasons/4/services/10/hymns/403/formats/2

Level 2
  • This hymn is sung during communion after the confession on the weekdays of the Great Lent. Psalm 150 has 6 different tunes depending on the season. Alleluia is the praise of the great multitude in heaven according to Revelation chapter 19.
Hazzat

https://www.hazzat.com/seasons/15/services/4/hymns/158/formats/2

This is the 7th part of Sunday Theotokia. The word Theotokia is derived from the word Theotokos which means the mother of God. It is a praise for the holy virgin St Mary. It talks about the incarnation of God, and how He prepared humanity to understand the greatest event in history which is the birth of God the Logos. It has many symbols of St Mary, like the flower of incense, and the rod of Aaron. Due to its importance and great meaning, it is incorporated into every single midnight praise regardless of the day.

Hazzat

https://www.hazzat.com/seasons/1/services/2/hymns/327/formats/2

Grades 9-12

To obtain your copy, please contact your church’s Mahragan representative

Grades 9 to 12

spiritual, coptic, & hymns

Hymns

Level 1

This hymn is sung after the Hymn of Blessing during the lamb offering. We also sing it during glorification of St. Mary and during the mystery of Crowning. In it we glorify St. Mary the ever virgin, the queen (Psalm 45:9), the unbarren vine (Ezekiel 44:2).

Hazzat

https://www.hazzat.com/seasons/1/services/20/hymns/319/formats/2

  • This is a very special hymn sung on the three major feats, Nativity, Epiphany, and Resurrection during Matins raising of incense. The hymn has 7 different tunes, and this one is the third tune on “Rejoice O Mary”, the standard Adam Aspasmos. The first part in that tune is taken from the 1st hour in the Agpeya, and from the liturgy “According to your mercy O Lord”. The second part is comforting us as He is the maker of good things, and doesn’t forget us as said in Isaiah 49:15.
Hazzat

https://www.hazzat.com/seasons/6/services/3/hymns/47/formats/2

This hymn is sung in that specific tune after psalm 150 during the weekdays of Great Lent. It solidifies our dogma of the Holy Trinity, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, one God.

Hazzat

https://www.hazzat.com/seasons/15/services/4/hymns/444/formats/2

Level 2

This is the first hymn in midnight praises right after our father. It manifests the vigilant souls waiting to meet the bridegroom like the wise virgins. It is an introduction and a call to awaken us and to prepare us to stand in front of God and praise. It contains parts of 2 psalms, 134 and 119 that are focused on the praise of God.

Hazzat

https://www.hazzat.com/seasons/1/services/2/hymns/329/formats/2

This hymn is sung during Matins’ raising of incense on the weekdays of the Great Lent, and Nineveh’s fast. The church doesn’t use the cymbals on the weekdays of the Great Lent and this hymn replaces the verses of cymbals that are normally chanted while raising incense.

Hazzat

https://www.hazzat.com/seasons/15/services/3/hymns/150/formats/2

Adults

To obtain your copy, please contact your church’s Mahragan representative

College and Adults

spiritual and coptic

Hymns

Level 1
  • This hymn is sung after the hymn of intercessions in the liturgy of the word. It is the response to the coptic Pauline Epistle, and it is traditionally chanted in the presence of the pope or the bishop.
  • Hazzat

https://www.hazzat.com/seasons/33/services/4/hymns/484/formats/2

  • It is an essential part of midnight praises. It has a standard tune and a tune with a refrain during the month of Koiahk. It consists of the last three psalms, 148, 149, and 150. Praise will be our main focus in heaven, so in it we are calling all the creation to praise. If the 1st canticle is to praise God thanking Him for victory, and the 2nd canticle is to praise Him for His mighty acts, and the 3rd canticle is to praise Him for His presence with us, the 4th canticle is a praise for all the creation to glorify the creator.

This is the last hymn sung during the procession of the feast of Pentecost which is also the last procession done in Marins of the feast. The feast itself marks the end of the Holy Fifties and the hymn is a summary of what happened since resurrection Sunday when Christ rose from the dead until He ascended to the heavens, then sent the Holy Spirit.

Hazzat

https://www.hazzat.com/seasons/24/services/10/hymns/91/formats/2

Level 2
  • This hymn is sung during Koiahk and Great Lent, and It is the 8th part of Saturday Theotokia. As all of the Theotokia’s it glorifies St. Mary and has symbols of her from the Old Testament then concludes with asking for her intercessions.
  • Hazzat

This hymn is sung during the Lamb Offering specifically on fasting days, Wednesdays, and Fridays after the 41 Lord have mercy “Kiryalaison’s”.

Hazzat

https://www.hazzat.com/seasons/1/services/20/hymns/553/formats/2

Hymns Curriculum

Welcome to our Hymns Competition!

Introduction to the Mahragan Hymns Competition

Coptic hymns hold a special place in the heart of our Orthodox Christian church and prayers. These sacred songs have been passed down through generations, preserving the theological richness and spiritual depth of our faith. They are not merely songs but expressions of our communal prayer and devotion, connecting us with Christ and with each other. The core competitions of the Mahragan are designed to reinforce our Coptic identity and foster a deeper connection among our youth.

Which Hymns: Separate hymns for each age group are published online here.  Each hymn includes the following supplemental resources:

  • Brief Introductions: Each section starts with a short introduction to the hymn, explaining its history, liturgical purpose, and key details.
  • Educational Resources: For each hymn, links are provided to:
    • Lyrics: Available in multiple languages.
    • Audio Recordings: Listen to how the hymn is sung.
    • Hazzat Visualizations: Visual guides to the hymn’s melody.
  • Inspirational Imagery: Icons and images are included to connect learners visually with the spiritual themes of each hymn.

Our goal is to build a foundation of knowledge and appreciation for our hymnal traditions among the youth, teaching them the significance and context of each hymn beyond just the melody.

Pre-k – Kindergarten
Grades 1 – 3
Grades 4 – 5
Grades 6 – 8
Grades 9 – 12
Adults

 

Submission Guidelines
  • Hymns Submission: Participants in each age group and church should submit links for recorded videos of chanting each hymn (singing as a group).
  • Submission Deadline: The due submission date of recorded hymns is Sunday, August 17
  • Languages: Hymns can be recited in any language (Coptic/Greek, English, Arabic) or a mix of languages (for hymns with multiple verses).
  • Video Recording: For each participating age group, a video recording of all participants praying together (as a group), without any external help, should be uploaded to SharePoint (a link will be provided later) no later than Sunday 08/17/2024, 11:59 PM.
    • The video should show all participants in the frame.
    • If the file size of the recording is large, the video may be compressed, or broken to smaller segments to allow submission.
  • Competition Levels:
    • Level 1 and Level 2: For each age group: middle school, high school, and adults. Level 2 consists of relatively harder hymns than Level 1.
    • Churches can choose to participate in Level 1 and/or Level 2 (if qualified).
    • Participants can participate in Level 1 and/or Level 2.
    • Minimum number of participants per team is 4 for Level 1 and 2 for Level 2 competitions.
  • Team Participation: Every church is allowed to participate with only one team for each age group and level.
  • Reading Allowed: Participants are allowed to read the lyrics of the hymns, including charts (Hazzat), while reciting them (i.e., they are not expected to memorize the lyrics).
Evaluation Criteria
  • Singing Together: All participants should sing together (within reason, especially for younger ages).
  • Participation: Ensure that all members of the group are participating. Larger groups can have a few members lip-syncing, but smaller groups should have all members actively participating.
  • External Help: Performances should be unaided by external help, but guidance and support for Angels/ younger elementary kids is permitted.
Not Considered for Evaluation
  • Video Production Quality: The quality of video production will not be considered.
  • Settings: The location of the recording (in front of the altar vs. in a Church basement) will not affect the evaluation.
  • Uniforms: Wearing a uniform or not will not be graded.
  • Language: All languages are graded equally. Different versions of the hymns in various languages will not incur penalties.
  • Number of Participants: As long as the team meets the minimum requirement, the number of participants is not a factor. Different numbers of kids reciting different hymns is acceptable.
Finalists Selection System:

The top 3 churches in each age group will be declared qualified for the final round on September 6 to compete in person.

Thank you for your participation in the Hymns Competition. We look forward to your beautiful hymns!

Servants Books

Coming Soon

Servants competition will be available in English or Arabic

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